Bilateral Haj Agreement 2024 with Saudi Arabia
India and Saudi Arabia recently inked a deal for this year’s Haj pilgrimage. In simpler terms, the agreement outlines that 1,75,025 Indian pilgrims are allowed to participate in the annual Haj.
Out of this, 1,40,020 spots are reserved for those going through the Haj Committee of India, and the remaining 35,005 can opt for private operators.
The agreement was officially signed by India’s Minority Affairs Minister Smriti Zubin Irani and the Saudi Minister for Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah in Jeddah.
Per the official statement, the Saudi officials commended the Indian Government for its digital efforts to make information easily accessible and convenient for Haj pilgrims.
Haj Agreement 2024 – Tech-Driven Initiatives and Women’s Empowerment in Focus
They specifically acknowledged initiatives that use technology to assist pilgrims in their final steps of the journey.
Additionally, the discussions covered the Indian Government’s initiative to encourage participation in the Ladies without Mehram (LWM) category, a category allowing women to undertake the pilgrimage without a male companion.
This initiative was recognized and praised by the Saudi side.
